The islands of Aotearoa New Zealand were once inhabited by birds. Shrieking, warbling, tinkling, booming. Poised, strutting, gliding, dancing in scribbled loops through the air. Forest, river, marsh, mountain, ocean, shore—everything charged with their mauri, life force.
Across centuries, artists have strived to capture the essence of these birds, creating a rich dialogue that traces human and avian histories in parallel.
This new book is an immersive visual exploration of the cultural, ecological and imaginative breadth of the realm of birds—from ancient rock art and taoka Māori, to colonial and scientific drawings and paintings, to modern and contemporary sculpture, weaving, carving, ceramics and photography.
This is bird land, through the eyes of many of New Zealand’s most significant artists.